U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Tim Hoffman
PALMER -- Timothy Ray Hoffman, 44, of Palmer died Tuesday, March 24, 1998, in a car/truck accident on a rural road near St. Libory.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Congregational Church in Gregory, S.D. Burial will be in the IOOF cemetery at Gregory.
Mr. Hoffman was born on Nov. 24, 1953, at Winner, S.D., to Ray and Frances (Kappelman) Hoffman. He grew up on the family farm south of Dallas, S.D., where he attended rural school. He graduated from high school at Gregory in 1972.
He married
Vickie Ann DeGrote on Sept. 1, 1973. They moved to Watertown, S.D., where he was a student at a vocational-technical school. He worked as a mechanic for a while before enrolling at Mount Marty College in Yankton, S.D.
He graduated from Mount Marty as a respiratory therapist and worked in many locations during his career. He had lived at Palmer for several years.
He enjoyed fishing and tinkering with anything mechanical.
Survivors include three children, Nicole Hoffman of Lincoln, Cameron Hoffman of Palmer and Benjamin Hoffman of Yankton, S.D.; his parents, of Dallas, S.D.; and two brothers, Rod Hoffman of Mitchell, S.D., and Mike Hoffman of Dallas.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister.
Leonard Mrkvicka
OSCEOLA -- Leonard J. Mrkvicka, 84, of Osceola died Wednesday, March 25, 1998, at Annie Jeffrey Hospital in Osceola.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Osceola. The Rev. Thomas McGuire will officiate. Burial will be in the Osceola Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until after a 6:30 p.m. rosary Friday at Kepner-Roberts Funeral Home in Osceola.
Mr. Mrkvicka was born on Feb. 4, 1914, at Farwell to Loddy and Agnes (Ziemba) Mrkvicka. He attended Sherman County rural schools.
He married
Esther Miller in 1946 at Farwell. They moved in 1949 to Osceola, where he operated a tavern. He worked at Johnson Chevrolet for five and a half years. He was custodian and school bus driver for Osceola Public Schools for 21 years and custodian at Annie Jeffrey Hospital for 12 years.
Survivors include his wife, Omaha; and two sisters, Irene Nance of St. Louis and Rita Potmesil of Robertsdale, Ala.
He was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
Paul Briggs
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Paul Briggs, 76, of Evanston, Ill., formerly of Grand Island, died Jan. 13, 1998.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Kearney Cemetery.
Memorial services were on Jan. 17 in Evanston, Ill. Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home of Wilmette, Ill., was in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include one daughter, Laural Briggs; and two grandchildren.
'Kay' Brown
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Helen Kathryn "Kay" Brown, 74, of State College, Pa., formerly of Ord, died March 19, 1998, at her home.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Ord. The Rev. David Stipp will officiate. Burial will be in the Ord City Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Valley County Hospital Foundation.
Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Brown was born on Dec. 25, 1923, in Ord to George and Lois (Pilcher) Work. She was the 1941 valedictorian at Ord High School, where she excelled in academics and music.
She entered the University of Nebraska-Lincoln but interrupted her education to join the U.S. Navy. She served as a Wave in Washington, D.C., during World War II. She graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service at the top of her class in 1948.
She married
John Cudd Brown in 1947 in Ord.
Mrs. Brown lived in Africa while her husband served the U.S. State Department there as the youngest ever vice consul. She lived in Washington, D.C., Oregon, California and Virginia before settling in State College, Pa., in 1968.
She cared for her mother during her final years.
Mrs. Brown was an avid bird-watcher and lifelong animal lover and advocate.
Survivors include one daughter, Alison (Mrs. Robert) Buck of Universal City, Texas; two sons, Steven Brown of State College and Gregory Brown of San Antonio; and one grandchild.
Alice Wilson
DENVER -- Alice Duffy Wilson, 89, of Denver died Feb. 26, 1998, at Cherry Creek Nursing Center in Aurora, Colo.
Memorial services were on March 2 in Denver. Burial will be at 10 a.m. April 18 in the Central City Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Merrick County Foundation or the UWL Foundation-Philip K. Wilson Scholarship Fund.
Mrs. Wilson was born on April 19, 1908, in McCool Junction to Philip A. and Zola (Edmunds) Duffy. She moved with her parents to Central City in 1914. She grew up and attended schools in Central City and graduated from Central City High School in 1926 as valedictorian. She received a degree in fine arts from the University of Nebraska in 1930.
She taught private piano and voice lessons in Central City and taught for two years at District 37 School. She sang at many funerals and weddings in Central City.
She married
Olan K. "Bus" Wilson in 1932. The couple moved to Park Ridge, Ill., in 1943 and to Arizona in 1976. She had lived in Denver since 1990.
Mrs. Wilson enjoyed weaving, music, antiques, reading, gardening and genealogy and could trace her ancestry to 1624 on Cape Ann, Mass. She was a member of Xi Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Delta Omicron music honorary and the University of Nebraska Alumni Association.
Survivors include a daughter, Dr. Joy Wilson of Denver; a son, Dr. Philip Wilson of LaCrosse, Wis.; three grandchildren; a sister, Patricia Maguire of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and a brother, Philip Duffy of Bellevue.
She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant son, Terry Keith Wilson; and an infant brother.
Lavern Gulbrandson
STROMSBURG -- Lavern V. Gulbrandson, 47, of Stromsburg died Wednesday, March 25, 1998.
Services are pending with Palmer Funeral Home of Stromsburg.
More information will appear later.
Mary Hines
BROKEN BOW -- Mary Hines, 72, of Broken Bow died Tuesday, March 24, 1998, at Jennie Melham Hospital in Broken Bow.
Services are pending with Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow.
Tim Hoffman
ST. LIBORY -- Tim Hoffman, 44, of St. Libory died Tuesday, March 24, 1998, in a car/truck accident near St. Libory.
Services are pending at Kotrba Funeral Home in Gregory, S.D.
Melvin Pedersen
ST. PAUL -- Melvin C. Pedersen, 81, of St. Paul died Tuesday, March 24, 1998, at the Heritage Living Center in St. Paul.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Grace Baptist Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Don Lovell will officiate. Burial will be in Elmwood cemetery in St. Paul.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Jacobsen Funeral Home in St. Paul
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Pedersen was born on Nov. 26, 1916, at Morganville, Kan., to Christian and Fredricka (Slipsager) Pedersen. He grew up at Clifton, Kan., on the family farm. He was educated at a rural school in that area and then farmed with his father. He moved with his family to a farm near Cushing in 1941.
He married
Lila Petersen on June 17, 1946, at Fullerton. The couple farmed northeast of Cushing. At the same time, he worked for the Soil Conservation Service from 1962 to 1967. The couple retired and moved into St. Paul in 1975.
He was a member of Grace Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Elaine (Mrs. Ronald) Swanson of St. Paul; two sons, Glenn of St. Paul and Lloyd of Gibbon; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Stanley; and an infant sister.
